This week’s #FriFotos theme on Twitter is Harbors! I’ve always been drawn to the water, and harbors are particularly alluring since they often appear unexpectedly in the midst of urban activity. Here are some of my favorites from my various travels…

I’ve always loved photographing windows. The structure, the architecture… the promise of what view lies outside it. Something about them always has enticed me to whip out my camera and snap a quick shot. And sometimes, it isn’t even the actual window itself, per se, but the way a reflection bounces off of the glassy surface […]

Nearly 4 years ago, I hiked the Tongariro Crossing on New Zealand’s North Island. Rugged and steep and notoriously treacherous, it was by far the most difficult hike I’d ever completed at that time. But the effort was worth it — it was gorgeous. I was really amazed by the otherworldly landscape that unfolded at […]

This week, PackedSuitcase.com reached 100 posts. Hurray! It’s a huge milestone and I’ve been planning a celebration of sorts to look back at a few of my favorite posts. Serendipitously, Katie at Tripbase has recently initiated a fun challenge called My 7 Links. The gist is that nominated bloggers pick out worthy posts from our archives […]

Auckland is the top gateway city for visitors arriving in New Zealand. For those looking to get out of the city and have a unique day trip before moving on to further explore this incredible country, why not head out on a brief ferry ride to picturesque Waiheke Island, full of wineries, beaches and spectacularly […]

Queenstown. How fitting is it that New Zealand’s adventure capital is also one of the most pristine, most simply beautiful cities in their country? Well worth a stop on any South Island trip, take the gondola high up to the scenic overlook, spend the afternoon reading in the Queenstown gardens, try a Fergberger. Just enjoy […]

Adventure tourism is an ever-expanding industry, and today roughly 20% of all adult travelers are considered adventure tourists. However, most travelers don’t want adventure merely for adventure’s sake. Instead, today’s savvy jetsetters want to combine an exciting experience organically with the beauty and local flavor of a location. If you’re looking for the best of […]

Search

Welcome to Packed Suitcase!

Packed Suitcase is a travel blog featuring quick, satisfying trips that can easily be done in a weekend from a mid-Atlantic home base.

All throughout the site, you'll find inspiration, tips, gorgeous photography and itineraries for the best quick-trip destinations, with special emphasis on showing the awesome side of lesser-known places and experiences.

Have weekend travels worthy of the Monday morning water cooler… without having to take a lot of time off of work.

About Me

My name is Chris and I'm a National Geographic Channel producer by day and a freelance travel blogger and photographer by night.

I’m passionate about empowering and enabling readers to find accessible ways to travel within their time-off constraints to become weekend warriors.